Shunned

[Cave Dweller]

This past Saturday, I took my son into my old barber shop to have his hair cut.  

He was seated immediately with the barber he always uses, and the barber started work.

I sat down opposite the other two barbers (including the one I always used) who were waiting for customers, and said "Hello".  They barely even acknowledged my presence, then turned away from me.  It was almost as if my being there offended/insulted them.

When my son was finished, I paid and tipped 20% as I always did.  We left feeling a distinctive chill on our backs.

My son even said that he thought it might be better if he goes in alone next time.

(Don't get me wrong on this.  We thought it was hilarious.)

[jedge01]

Funny or not, I'm not sure they'd be worthy of my business. I'd have to seriously think about going back there.    

[Hingatao]

I agree. Even though you, personally, are no longer a customer you still thought enough of them to bring them some business and leave a generous tip to boot. They should be grateful for it.

[isleepinthebuff]

I'd find a new barber for your son. Appalling customer service whether you think it's funny or not. reading your previous posts you talk about having a horseshoe before going sly. Most guys who do not razor their head use clippers to keep their hair short, so it sounds like they had an easy income from you for longer than they should have.

Plus even people with hair change their look, say if you had grown your hair would they be like that. They'll be losing respect from a lot of people if they treat ex customers like that.

Find your son a new barbers   

[Sir Harry]

Sorry that you and your son had such a bad experience, but you handled it well....I'm willing to bet that if you didn't include the tip, they would have gotten the message that their service can-and should-have an impact on how much, if any, of a tip that they received. And if they retaliated on the next visit by giving your son a bad haircut, I would end the business relationship all together. Ash wipes like these are not worth your time or money.

[Mikekoz13]

I would march my son in there immediately after getting his hair cut the next time..... and tell them why they lost my business. I'd also let them know that I spread the word about their bad customer service.

[OzSly]

G'Day Cave Dweller mate 

Sorry to hear what happened.

Find somewhere else to get your boy's hair cut.

The lack of common courtesy let alone lack of customer service is appalling.

These sort of people don't deserve your business.

[Cave Dweller]

Guys, I am really sorry.  I thought the situation was incredibly funny and wanted to share it with you.  A smooth-headed bald man sitting in a barber shop and being looked upon with disdain was rather silly to me.

I seem to have made some of you upset.  Not at all my intention.  My son's barber was not unfriendly to me and does an excellent job.  He deserved the tip.

Believe me, I almost cracked up from the absurd reaction the other two had to me.  Then again, I try to find the humor in just about everything, so I don't take things like this too seriously.

[Sir Harry]

Maybe I read too much into it......I guess at the end of the day, if I'm your customer, as long as you do a good job, you don't have to say anything. If you're okay with it, I guess I am too. After looking at your former avatar, I can see you're a guy who doesn't let things get to you easily....which is a good thing.

[greatnessinc]

I'd be joking around with the other people waiting. I'd say I just asked for a little off the top...

[buddha]

Guys, I am really sorry.  I thought the situation was incredibly funny and wanted to share it with you.  A smooth-headed bald man sitting in a barber shop and being looked upon with disdain was rather silly to me.

I seem to have made some of you upset.  Not at all my intention.  My son's barber was not unfriendly to me and does an excellent job.  He deserved the tip.

Believe me, I almost cracked up from the absurd reaction the other two had to me.  Then again, I try to find the humor in just about everything, so I don't take things like this too seriously.

 

[g_bald]

I'm torn but the other's reaction seem rather like you're not worthy of their time when you might be a good tipper and a repeat customer for them.

I do realize though the humor you see in it, the take of "well, I guess I won't be cutting HIS hair..." look

I guess the best judge is yourself, how you were in that situation. I try to find humor in a situation, where appropriate, because life's too short. But... my hair is NOT too short... *feels smooth scalp* LOL 

-gary-

[buddha]

To me it sounds like Cave Dweller's response is another way of saying that he didn't take the ignorance of the other 2 barbers personally. What it seems he did was draw a boundary for himself. The way he handled it the barbers' ignorance was strictly their problem. If he had chosen to respond to it in any way other than what was comfortable to him it would have made him a party to it which would be pointless. Just a lot of aggravation for him and for the barbers? The satisfaction of knowing that they had pissed him off. Plus, they got to see the 3rd guy get a $20 tip.
Kudos.

[antoniom]

you did good

[tomgallagher]

I ran into the same thing years ago. My old barber, who I patronized once a mobth, sat down in a cafe and totally ignored me. Oh well, c'est la vie.